Eilat Snorkeling Now vs. Sharm, Taba Heights, Debah, Israel
 

We are spending 10 days in Israel in early May and since we are avid snorkelers we want to spend 3 full days in Eilat and go out on small group oriented (8-10)to different spots each day for 3-4 hours. Is the coral as vivid, varied and the variety of fish and sea anenomes high quality snorkeling like Sharm, and Taba Heights, etc. I have heard it no longer is what it was 3-5 years ago. It is an expensive diversion so we do not want to be disappointed. We have snorkeled in Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Belize, Grand Cayman, Hawaii and St. John, U.S.V.I. as well as 5-6 other quality areas so we are spoiled.
Can anyone help who has been to Eilat in the past 12-18 months and compare it to places we have visited.We do not want to be disappointed with dying coral or underwater visibility under 35-45 feet.
If you have been recently can you recommend 1-2 reliable firms that go out in 30-35ft. boats with 8-10 other snorkelers. We do not want to go on dive boats for they go in waters that are generally too deep for snorkeling.THANKS!!

My husband has done both Eilat and Taba about 2 years ago. DH said Eilat was not as good as Taba, both for snorkelling and diving. Visibility was ok, some signs of corals coming back, but didn't have much in terms of variety.

We've snorkeled in Carribean (BVI, Curacao), Asia (Thai), plus Mauritius/ Seychelles/ Maldives.

W9London; Was the coral for snorkelers bleached or healthy when your husband was in Taba 2 years ago. Is Taba really much better than Sharm el Scheikh?? It is 150 miles from Sharm to Taba, is it worth it?
Are the corals vivid, variety of fish awesome with 40+ft. visibility for snorkelers in 5-20 ft. of water, conditions permitting in May? ? Are there tour boats dedicated to taking snorkelers out in groups of 8-10 vs. 25 for 1/2 day trips to the best reef spots?This info will be very helpful.
Lastly how does it compare to Curacao, Phi Phi or Koh Tao in Thailand?

If you have a few days, I'd say your best bet is Dahab, two hours south of the border in Sinai. Blue Hole is the famous site and you can go right from the beach. And it is definitely worth it. I've snorkelled in St. Lucia, Ko Phi Phi and near Cancun and Dahab is by far the best. Eilat is OK, but not as impressive.

trebex: If we fly from Cairo to Sharm how long a drive is it to Dahab and to Taba (I think Taba Heights is 150 miles), that's a long drive even with a driver.We would spend 4 full days/5 nights whichever place we pick but sounds like Eilat is not worth considering.
In Dahab are there snorkel boats daily to different quality spots but NOT on dive boats for they go into deeper water and we need 5-20Ft. with 40+ ft. visibility? Or, do you have to rely on off-the beach or charters (which are too costly and I sometimes question the reliability when going 5 miles from shore)??
What are the 2 nicest hotels maybe under 200+/- as opposed to 40 or 400? rooms or so in Dahab?

Taba: coral was definitely not bleached when he was there (he only did diving). Can't compare with Sharm as we've never been there, but most people thought Sham was superior at least for diving.

W9London; How long a drive is it from Sharm to Taba Heights late morning? What 2 hotels would you say are the nicest in Taba Heights? I realize there may be 1 or 2 additional hotels by May 2007 from 2+ years ago. Can you get to good restaurants from the major hotels with a $3-$4 taxi ride?
Are there any significant historical sites within 1-1 1/2 hour drive with guide of Taba Height for a 1/2 day sode trip?
Sorry for all the questions but they will really help me decide. I also cannot figure out how far Dabah is from Sharm, do you know, closer or further from Sharm?

Thanks!!!

Again, we've never been to Sharm so can't answer the travel time. There is a Hilton in Taba right after you cross the border from Eilat. We only did a day trip and stayed at Eilat. I'm not aware of historical sites.